Washington Week Show - #4517
Washington Week Show - WW 4517 - "Show Opening"
Hosted by Gwen Ifill, with guest panelists Gloria Borger, Richard Kyle, Martha Raddatz, David Sanger. Composite footage (unclean) with Washington Week title and text: U.S. President George W. Bush says, "There's some background noise here, a lot of chatter, a lot of speculation, and opining, but the American people expect me to do my job and I'm going to." Split-screen of Harriet Miers and Karl Rove. Capitol Dome. Harriet Miers seated with Senator Arlen Specter. Young adult man looking over documents (paperwork). Specter says, "I think it's been a chaotic process, very candidly." Senator Patrick Leahy says, "We actually would like to know what the heck is going on." Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald. Split screen of Karl Rove and Lewis "Scooter" Libby. Iraqi elections, Saddam Hussein on trial, explosions in Iraq, American soldiers running.
Washington Week Show - WW 4517 - "Judicial Nomination"
Various shots of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers. U.S. President George W. Bush says, "...Harriet, for a lot of reasons. One reason was because she had never been a judge. I thought it made a lot of sense to bring a fresh outlook of somebody who's actually been a very successful attorney, and not only successful attorney, but to have been a pioneer for women lawyers in Texas." Gwen Ifill asks Gloria Borger of CBS News if this nomination is falling apart. Borger notes that no one other than Bush seems to know anything about her, which puts any new information about her under the magnifying glass. She outlines meetings the nominee has had and documents that have been reviewed which provide an incomplete and occasionally contradictory background on Miers’s views on issues like privacy and abortion.
Washington Week Show - WW 4517 - "Judicial Nomination"
Host Gwen Ifill wonders why Republicans are asking the White House for communication records with Harriet Miers, even though they will deny access. Gloria Borger of CBS News states Republicans simply want to know more about her positions on constitutional issues, but those communications are protected by executive privilege. Answering Martha Raddatz of ABC News, Borger details how bad the submitted questionnaire is being perceived, in which insufficient responses to her case law work and lack of information on her time as White House Counsel are problematic in gleaning her positions on Constitutional issues. David Sanger of the New York Times asks where the Democrats fall, given their complete silence. Borger says Democrats are content in letting Republicans fight among themselves for now. Borger notes that despite wavering answers Miers gave in a questionnaire when she ran for Dallas public office in 1989, the original responses were not enough to win over many conservative Republicans.
Washington Week Show - WW 4517 - "Grand Jury Investigation"
Host Gwen Ifill introduces new segment: possible criminal charges facing top Bush aides Lewis “Scooter” Libby and Karl Rove. Richard Kyle of Bloomberg News reports the atmosphere in the White House is extremely tense with indictments a likelihood. David Sanger of the New York Times asks what the political consequences may be should Libby or Rove be indicted. Kyle acknowledges the President’s loyalty to those who have aided his political career, but even the President realizes that if either are indicted, they cannot stay on staff, will have to resign. Split screen shot of Richard Kyle and Karl Rove with his legal team, then walking with U.S. President George W. Bush.
Washington Week Show - WW 4517 - "Grand Jury Investigation"
Gloria Borger of CBS News asks if the prosecution is going after Scooter Libby and Karl Rove for trying to discredit someone who was trying to discredit them, or for the alleged cover up. Richard Kyle of Bloomberg News believes it is the cover up of official activities that is under scrutiny. Martha Raddatz of ABC News asks if others are under investigation. Kyle believes it's a possibility but not likely at the moment. Host Gwen Ifill asks if this investigation has the chance to go all the way up to the the Vice President. Kyle states that the standard “what did the Vice President know and when did he know it” question has been asked, but there currently is no evidence implicating Dick Cheney. Richard states more news (indictments) can come within the week, but if not the prosecutor has the power to bring forth a new grand jury and present the current evidence again.
Washington Week Show - WW 4517 - "Iraqis Vote"
Host Gwen Ifill changes the subject to Iraq and how this week was supposed to be a turning point with a vote on a constitutional referendum and the prosecution of Saddam Hussein. Martha Raddatz of ABC News says it was not the turning point the White House wanted. Raddatz says that during her time there the Sunnis were not voting for the constitutional referendum, and that she and her cameraman witnessed the alleged voting irregularities (ballot box stuffing). U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice says, "There's a great deal at stake. A free Iraq will be at the heart of a different kind Middle East. We must defeat the ideology of hatred, the ideology that forms the roots of the extremist threat that we face. Iraq's struggle, the region's struggle, is to show that there is a better way, a freer way to lasting peace."
Washington Week Show - WW 4517 - "Iraq War"
Host Gwen Ifill asks David Sanger of the New York Times to parse U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice’s comments. Sanger says they reflect the reality on the ground in Iraq. When asked if the war in Iraq could last 5-10 years or more, she admitted that possibility. President Bush’s statements reveal that he believes the United States is in a conflict similar to the Cold War in terms of duration, which is in stark contrast to January when benchmarks were set as goal to troop withdrawal from Iraq. Further, there are problems within the Republican party as midterms loom and GOP congressmen try to convince voters that the war is waning. Martha Raddatz of ABC News lists off the moments where the administration was slow to react to the violence in Iraq, points out that insurgents care little about democracy. Gloria Borger of CBS News wonders if the administration gets credit for holding a referendum that showed very little violence, but Raddatz points out the entire country was “locked down” to ensure a peaceful voting process.
Washington Week Show - WW 4517 - "Iraq War"
Richard Kyle of Bloomberg News asks Martha Raddatz of ABC News if it’s possible the U.S. military has successfully figured a way to lessen the violence or if they are just waiting for an explosion of violence to occur. Raddatz states the reduction is the product the country being “locked down” but military and intelligence officials still do not have a firm grasp on how to deal with the insurgents. The temporary lack of violence should not be confused with implementation of successful U.S. strategy. Host Gwen Ifill and David Sanger of the New York Times recall the post war plans after World War II for Japan and Germany, Sanger stating the White House envisioned similar post war plans for Iraq; post WWII models do not apply, the closest comparison being the insurgency in Malaysia, which took 10 years. Gloria Borger of CBS News asks about the potential for war to expand into Syria. Sanger admits it's a possibility while insurgents gather across the border. The United Nations has been critical of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria, but removing him from power would likely create more instability and a power vacuum.
Washington Week Show - WW 4517 - "Troop Numbers/Saddam Trial"
Richard Kyle of Bloomberg News asks if the war did spill over into Syria, would the U.S. have enough troops to commit to the fight? Martha Raddatz of ABC News says no, that U.S. troop levels are already stretched too far. Split screen of show host Gwen Ifill speaking, Saddam Hussein standing trial. Ifill asks Raddatz to describe her experience outside the courtroom while Saddam Hussein was being tried.
Washington Week Show - WW 4517 - "Show Close"
Host Gwen Ifill thanks her panel, wraps up the show. Credits roll